VDOT visits James City to brief legislators on I-64 expansion

WILLIAMSBURG — Virginia Department of Transportation officials said the ultimate length of the long-awaited I-64 expansion on the Peninsula depends on how far $100 million can stretch.

On Thursday, VDOT briefed state legislators, along with city and county leaders on its plans to expand the congested Peninsula roadway between Jefferson Avenue and Humelsine Parkway in James City County.

Using funds provided by the General Assembly this past spring when legislators passed Gov. Bob McDonnell's signature transportation law, VDOT hopes to expand I-64 to six lanes, providing an additional lane in each direction all the way from Jefferson Avenue at mile marker 255 to exit 242 in James City County. But that depends on what can be done within the current budget allotted.

Right now the project is budgeted for $100 million, mostly provided by general transportation state funds allocated to VDOT. But it's possible the board of the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization may use some of its regional funding to support the project as well.

"Our ultimate goal is to, at a minimum, get to segment one, which ends at Fort Eustis Boulevard," said Bruce Duvall, a project engineer with VDOT..

But engineering the project will be complicated, which can reduce the amount of pavement that can be laid. Duvall told lawmakers the property bordering the stretch of interstate presents challenges.

Engineers will likely have to make context-sensitive designs for portions of the expansion near the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station and the Lee Hall reservoir. Duvall noted there are also 15 bridges along the interstate segment that add to the complexity of the project.

VDOT had said previously that construction on the project was expected to begin in 2017. But VDOT regional administrator Jim Utterback told the Daily Press Thursday it was possible construction could begin as soon as 2015. A design-build contract for the project is expected to be released next year.

"The delivery schedule and when we break ground is dependent on what the limits of the project are," said Duvall. "The length of that project is going to drive how fast we see the project go to construction and how fast we see dirt turned."

Del. Mike Watson, R-Williamsburg, who attended the meeting and spearheaded the effort for funds for the project in the General Assembly, said he was pleased with the progress being made.

"They've done the surveying and the geotechnical work. Now the question is how far we can go with money that's available today and what other additional money do we need to put it in and where it will come from," he said.

The meeting was attended by Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford County, who said the I-64 expansion was an example of how lawmakers could work together to solve problems across the state. "I'm glad we finally got it done," said Howell.

He praised the efforts of Watson and Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, to champion the bill in the General Assembly this past spring. "They both took a courageous vote knowing it's something this area really needed," he said.

Sen. Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment Jr., R-James City County, said it was important that the transportation projects are completed quickly with the funds provided under the new transportation law, which created regional sales taxes and also placed a wholesale tax on the price of gasoline.

"The gratifying thing about that project is it will be a project that will be completed and utilized in my lifetime," Norment said. "Transportation projects, unlike a lot of other core government services, take years to accomplish," he said.

"You can put a billion dollars in public education, higher education, health and human resources and you can see a result coming out in a short period of time. "But for transportation, it takes years if not decades," he said.